Humane Society hires firm to help find new director

The Toledo Area Humane Society has hired a local search firm to help it find its next executive director.

The group’s board of trustees has retained Waverly Partners, LLC, which has an agency in Toledo. Board member Margaret Beck heads the search committee that will work with Waverly Partners to identify local, regional and national candidates. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 31.

“Our committee developed a profile with the experience and leadership characteristics of our preferred candidate,” Ms. Beck said in a release. “We are open to executives with backgrounds in animal welfare organizations, other kinds of nonprofits, private sector or related experience with a commitment to our mission.”

The five-page executive director position profile is available at ToledoAreaHumaneSociety.org under “About Us/Career Opportunities” and also on the Society for Animal Welfare Administrators' Web site at sawanetwork.org under “Career Center.”

Compensation is not specified in the profile, but the group’s last executive director, John Dinon, made $82,500 annually, according to Cyndi Condit, the humane society’s marketing/special events manager. Mr. Dinon left the organization abruptly on Sept. 25.

Search consultants Joel Epstein, who is leading the effort for Waverly along with Heidi Geiger Milosovic, said the salary range is expected to be $85,000-$100,000 depending upon background, skill set, and experience.

The search firm has been contacting executives and board members of other animal welfare organizations, Mr. Epstein said.

“Additionally, Waverly Partners has been making direct calls to animal welfare executives, 95 individuals, in a five-state area,” Mr. Epstein said. “Also, through the Toledo Community Foundation, we have sent notices of the opening to volunteer chairs and executives of not-for-profit agencies in the northwest Ohio area.”

According to the profile, the ideal candidate is currently functioning as a senior level executive of a comparable nonprofit animal shelter/humane service organization or of a complex nonprofit organization with mission of service to the community. Alternative backgrounds could include a local executive level for-profit leader with a track record of personal commitment to nonprofits.

“The TAHS’s annual operating budget of $1.5 million is generated through adoption fees, donations, contributions, grants, and bequests,” the profile indicates. “The TAHS has over 30 employees and has recently begun a capital campaign to build a new facility for the organization.”

Mr. Dinon had with the humane society since Oct. 6, 2008. The group issued a statement that he was leaving effective Oct. 1, but when reached by phone Sept. 25, Mr. Dinon said he already had vacated the job and that he could not comment further.